You'll notice by checking the "archive" part of the sidebar here that it looks like I only blogged twice in 2020, and that in general that I've been blogging less each year since 2014. With that being the case, you're probably wondering what I've been up to.
Well firstly, I actually blogged more in 2020 than any previous year, it's just that 43 of those posts were over in my second blog, Ryan's COVID-19 Chronicles. In retrospect I kind of wish I'd just written those here instead of making a totally separate blog for them, but at least I got to play around with a different and more visual layout.
Secondly, I was and continue to be busy writing for Vertigo Gaming Inc. projects. If you haven't already checked it out, you should go ahead and buy Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!, which features a complete story written in part by yours truly, performed by a very talented voice cast.
Thirdly, I actually spent a decent chunk of last year planning, outlining, and drafting what I expected to be the feature blog post of the year—AKA the really long one that would be popular outside of my social circle. It was meant to be a follow-up to the My Experience Writing for Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!! post that would have gone in-depth in the development of the characters, setting, and plot of Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!.
In fact, I actually drafted most of the post, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong with it so I stalled in finishing it. In retrospect, it felt self-indulgent and unnecessary. Whereas my post about writing for CSD2 came from a genuine want to share a cool behind-the-scenes experience with people, the CSD3 version felt like I was writing it out of obligation rather than out of having any genuine must-share stories or experiences. Not that I don't have stories to tell or techniques to share, but writing a super long personal blog post about it just didn't feel right this time around.
Fortunately, I've been put in charge of writing the Vertigo Gaming Inc. newsletters this year and I've been encouraged by my team to write behind-the-scenes stuff. As such, instead of writing some extremely long and self-indulgent personal blog post, I'm able to write shorter, topical articles that are sent directly to our fans on a monthly basis. You can read them in the archive here, starting with the January 2021 newsletter.
Finally, I've also been working on some other writing projects that I can't talk about right now, but let's just say I'm still busy and always writing.
That all said, I'd like to write a bit more on this site in 2021. There are no guarantees, of course, but I've got some ideas I'm already itching to write.
Here's hoping 2021 is better than the dumpster fire of 2020!
PS: Interestingly, I haven't actually listened to Madonna at all since that extensive journey through her music that I blogged about in late 2019, in case you were wondering.
-Ryan
